Warne back for another Bash

THE Big Bash League appears to have its biggest name back again for season two, with Shane Warne reportedly signing up for a second campaign with the Melbourne Stars.

The 42-year-old will also, according to reports, captain the Stars, replacing Cameron White, who wants to concentrate on winning a place in the Australian team for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in September.

The re-signing of Warne, who will be 43 in September will again be a massive drawcard for the BBL following his return to the game last season.

The BBL contract window opened up two days ago and teams have just under two weeks to sign on a minimum of 14 players and a maximum of 18, including two from overseas - all within a $1 million salary cap.

Brisbane Heat has already re-signed Kiwi spinner Daniel Vettori and the Hobart Hurricanes are the next team to announce big-name captures, with big-hitting duo Travis Birt and Aiden Blizzard putting pen to paper for the Tasmanian outfit.

Birt was the leading run scorer in the Big Bash League last season with 362 at an average of 40.22 and a strike rate of 160.17 playing for the Hurricanes. He has agreed to a three-year deal.

Blizzard, who moves to Tasmania after spells in South Australia and Victoria, played with the Adelaide Strikers last season but failed to hit peak form.

He is regarded as one of the biggest hitters in the country and on his Twenty20 debut in 2007-08 thumped 89 from 38 balls.

The 28-year-old scored just 104 runs in five matches but still had a strike rate of 138.66.